Brewery offers free beer in exchange for your blood

Bloody good: Beavertown Brewery is giving away free pints of beer to those who donate blood

A craft brewer is giving away free beer in exchange for those who donate their blood.

Beavertown Brewery in Tottenham Hale, north London, is encouraging drinkers to sign up and give blood and, in return, will pull free pints of its aptly named Bloody ’Ell Blood Orange IPA.

Sam Millard, brand and communications manager at the London brewery, said the free pints will be served to the first 500 people who visit the brewery and show their confirmation email after giving blood.

“The NHS says we need 400 new donors every single day and to keep with demand – we want to smash that figure,” Millard explained.

“We’re giving craft beer fans, who haven’t got around to giving blood, another great reason to sign up and book in their appointments.”

Keeping up with demand​

Earlier this year, the NHS Blood & Transplant service appealed to men, in particular, to give blood – after figures revealed that there were more than twice as many female donors as male donors in England in 2018.

Men’s blood has different characteristics to women’s blood and it is more likely that it can be used after an injury or surgery.

NHS Blood and Transport director of blood donation Mike Stredder said it is “vital” that people start donating blood.

“We’re incredibly grateful to all our female donors who are vital in providing lifesaving blood to those in need,” Stredder added.

“But we need men to catch up with recent recruitment because their blood can have different characteristics that can make it important in certain situations.”

The brewery will be starting the beer-for-blood swap from 2pm on Saturday 25 May.